Early Christian Numismatics and Other Antiquarian Tracts, Charles W

467. NUMISMATICS. Early Christian Numismatics, and other Antiquarian Tracts. By C. W. King. Illustrated. London, 1873. Svo, cloth, scarce • • • .$3.50 Cornell University Library BR131 .K52 Early Christian numismatics and other a 3 1924 029 242 041 olln Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029242041 J Jobbms hth ; EARLY CHRISTIAN NUMISMATICS, OTHER ANTIQUARIAN TRACTS. By C. W. |ING, M.A., AUTHOR OP ' ANTIQUE GEMS,' ETC. 1 Csesaris vexilla linquunt, eligunt signum Crucis Proque ventosis draconum quae gerebant palliis, Eligunt insigne lignum quod Draconem subdidit." Prudentius. LONDON: BELL & DALDY, YOKE STEEET, COVENT GABDEN. : LONDON PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFOKD STREET AKD CHARING C110SS Constantine, decus mundi, lux aurea ssecli, " Quis tua mixta canat mira pietate tropa;a ! Optatian. PREFACE. T^E little treatise which gives its title to the present volume originated in an application made to me by our Regius Professor of Divinity to point out to him any history of the introduction of Christian types upon the Roman coinage. The only book of that nature to which I was able to refer him was Dr. Walsh's brief essay ' On the Coins, &c, illus- trating the Progress of Christianity in the Early Ages/ published so long ago as 1828 ; and which, so far as I have been able' to ascertain, remains the only work in any language that takes for its ex- clusive subject this truly interesting and fertile province of Numismatics. But its errors and incom- pleteness rendered it a very unsatisfactory guide to the enquirer, who consequently was obliged to trace out for himself the progress of Christian a 2 iv PREFACE. symbolism in coin-types by the aid of that invaluable, but, at the same time, bewildering, series, engraved by Bauduri in the plates to his 'Numismata Imp. Kom. a Trajan o Decio usque ad Pakeologos ' ; by hunting up amongst the multitude of reverses the dispersed examples that offered any indication of the nature sought for—a task of considerable labour. Our repeated conversations upon various parti- culars in this research had the effect of turning my attention to the whole subject, and to the method in which it might most intelligibly and com- prehensively be treated. Coins, especially Roman imperial, had always been a favourite study with me, and (as a matter of course with tbe English collector) those of the late period, supplying the information required, were those most abundantly brought under my notice through their perpetual disinterment in all parts of Britain. The foundation for any treatise of the nature contemplated had been already laid by that Cory- phaeus of Christian archaeologists, the learned and laborious Father G-arrucci. As it would be a mere impertinence in another to attempt to remodel what he has already done so perfectly in this line, I have commenced my work with a close translation^ of his memoir 'Des Signes de Christianisme qui se trouvent sur les Monnaies de Constantin, &c.' supplemented by notes and remarks suggested by my own experience as a collector, or by my reading in the authors of PREFACE. V the times with which, we are concerned. Grarrucci has confined his enquiry to the period of the earliest introduction of the badges of Christianity upon the coinage, and consequently it did not fall within his plan to carry the investigation farther down than the elevation of all the sons of Constantine to the rank of Augusti. Beyond that period, the absence of all competitors in the field has emboldened me to pursue the history down to the extinction of the last traces of the Roman Empire. " Dans le pays des aveugles le borgne est roi " is a maxim which will, I hope, secure a favourable reception for this first attempt. It is certainly most interesting to mark how the momentous change in religion shows itself in these impartial and imperishable records of their times— the coins of the empire-^- first by symbols sparingly and timidly introduced, mere accessories to old established types, then by allegories more plainly avowing the Faith, and lastly by direct representations of Divine personages, which finally banish every other decoration from the field. The study of these aids to history will probably in- spire others, as it did myself, with a higher esti- mation of the character of the celebrated author of this revolution—a character to which moderns are inclined to do too little justice, by the natural re- vulsion from that extravagant praise of which for so many ages it had been the theme. These medals, with their modest and inobtrusive confessions of vi PREFACE. faith, are in themselves the best testimony to the wisdom and moderation of their issuer in carrying out that mighty change to which he was urged by mature conviction of its necessity. But the first Christian Caesar, bred up amidst trials and dangers of every sort, carried successfully through all by the support of men of every creed, and a true patriot above everything else, had fully obeyed the Apostle's precept, " to try all things, hold fast to that which is good." Before openly renouncing the religion of his fathers, he had carefully weighed the pretensions of the other novel doctrines then disputing men's minds with the Catholic, "cum limatius superstitionum qusereret sectas, Manichceorum et similium," as Ammian incidentally informs us, in a very remark- able passage (xv. 13). And when his decision was finally made, even then his consideration for the prejudices of others is manifest in his selection of coin-types in which no opinion could find reasonable grounds of offence. His "Invincible Sun," so acceptable to the numerous Mithraicists of the age, could not scandalise the equally numerous Christians, who easily recognised their own " Sun of Righteous- ness" in the allegory, as Chrysostom himself in- " " terprets the heathen title : his Mars the Defender expressed the military genius of the sovereign equally with the ancient patron deity of Rome ; his other coin-devices are the emblems of " Glory," " Hope," " Tranquillity," and " Peace "—the unanimous aspi- PREFACE. vii rations of every creed. Such wise impartiality in the all-powerful victor is the more to be admired when we take into consideration the insidious influence in the other direction, to which the declining years of his life were necessarily exposed—an influence the true spirit whereof is to be seen in the insulting and sanguinary laws on religion passed soon after by the priest-ridden Theodosius. There is another pleasing feature in this investigation : these medallic records bear convincing testimony to the great emperor's love for the arts, altbough then so sadly on the wane. The large variety of the types on both sides, the ingenuity displayed in their conception, the even poetic feeling that manifestly inspired some in the list, the admirable workmanship of such whose intrinsic importance demanded special care (and which puts to shame the best productions of modern mints)—all combine to render the Constantinian series a garden of delight, and a refreshing halting-place for the numismatist about to plunge into the barbarism that speedily ensued. The coins of the Lower and of the Byzantine empire, though generally with little to recommend them in the way of art, are yet interesting from the occasional gleams of taste discoverable in the in- vention of their types, but more instructive by their affording a faithful mirror of the transition in style and taste from the antique into the regular mediaeval. V1U PREFACE. Their variations in workmanship curiously indicate the vicissitudes of the empire : they manifest the utter prostration of all things under the immediate successors of Justinian, and the sickly rejuvenescence of power and the arts under the influence of the Oomneni. Of yet greater interest is it to observe how they become the models for the respective coinages of Europe whenever the different tribes of barbarian usurpers have settled down into any semblance of civilised life ; and this consideration, if pursued by one better acquainted with Continental Numismatics than myself, would, as my own limited experience assures me, lead to very extensive re- sults of much historical value. To the discussion of Christian coin-types an appro- priate supplement is found in the history of the Medals commemorating the Saviour Himself, and of the wondrous Emerald (fit comparison to the Sangraal) which they all claim for their ultimate source. These medals, ever and anon turning up to the bewilder- ment of all, to the deception of the unwary collector, and the immense profit of fraudulent dealers, were briefly treated of in my memoir " Upon the Vernicle of the Vatican," which dealt more particularly with the pictures and engraved gems of the like nature. The subject has now been rendered complete in all its bearings by the most obliging permission of Mr. Albert Way to supplement it with his essay on the medals specially considered—a tract full of that PREFACE. ix immense and accurate research which characterises every one of his contributions to archaeological knowledge. The remaining essays completing the volume made their appearance at long intervals in the ' Archaeological Journal.' Some amongst thern met with considerable approbation at the time, and copies of them have frequently been solicited, long after my " short " supply of them was exhausted. I have therefore reasonable grounds to hope that their republication (with the large additions supplied by the intervening years) may be acceptable to such as take an interest in the matters of which they treat.

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